63d Congress, I HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. J Report 
Sd Session. \ i No. 23'^ 



ILLITERACY AMONG ADULT POPULATION. 



February 7, 1914.— Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
the Union and ordered to be printed. 



Mr. Towner, from the Committee on Education, submitted the 

following 

REPORT. 

[To accompany H. R. 2494.] 

The Committee on Education, to whom was referred H. R. 2494, 
have considered the same and submit the following report with the 
unanimous recommendation of the committee that the bill be passed. 

In the act fixing the scope of the work of the Bureau of Education 
the authority is given "to collect statistics and facts showing the 
condition and progress of education in the several States and Terri- 
tories, and to diffuse such information," etc. It will be noted the 
powers granted are very limited. 

The bill upon which we report (H. R. 2494) is as follows: 

(H. R. 2494, Sixty-third Congress, first session.] 

A BILL To investigate illiteracy among the adult population of the United States and the means ofelimi* 
nating or reducing the same. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America 
in Congress assembled, That the Commissioner of Education shall, under the direc- 
tion of the Secretary of the Interior, investigate illiteracy among the adult popula- 
tion of the United States, and the means by which this illiteracy may be eliminated 
or reduced, and report to Congress, through the Secretary of the Interior, the results 
of his investigations; and he is hereby authorized, upon request or invitation, to 
advi.se and cooperate with school officials, teachers, and others in devising and puttine 
into operation such plans as will give to illiterate men and women and to those oi 
meager education an opportunity to learn to read and write and to supplement and 
extend their education. 

Sec. 2. That in carrying out the provisions of this act the Secretary of the Interior 
is hereby authorized to use at his discretion for the employment of field and clerical 
services, and for the payment of necessary expenses, such sums as may be appropriated 
for this purpose from time to time by Congress or contributed by individuals and 
s()cieties; and he i.s hereby authorized to accept donations for this purpose from 
disinterested individuals and societies, all such donations and the aisbursements 
thereof to be reported by him in his annual report to Congress. 



2 ILLITERACY AMONG ADULT POPULATION. ^ V J>^ 

It will be seen that some additional authority is granted in this 
bill to the Commissioner of Education. He is authorized to advise 
"•nd cooperate with school officials, teachers, and others in an organ- 
ized and concerted effort to reduce and as nearly as may be eradicate 
adult illiteracy in the United States. In this work the Secretary of 
the Interior is authorized to use for field and clerical services, and 
for the payment of other expenses, such sums as may be appropriated 
therefor, and to receive and use contributions from disinterested 
individuals and societies for such purposes. 

I here is no appropriation carried by this bill. 

It is believed that by a cooperative effort in which the Nation, the 
States, individuals, and associations shall join, the stain and reproach 
of illiteracy among the adult population of the country can be almost 
obliterated. 

By an effort of this kind France reduced the number of adult 
illiterates from 45 in a hundred to 5 in a hundred. In one year over 
a million men, women, and children over school age were enrolled 
in those schools, learning to read and write. The schools were 
organized and supported by national, local, and benevolent coopera- 
tion. 

According to the Federal census of 1910 there were in the United 
States 5,516,163 persons 10 years of age and over unable to read or 
write. Ihis was nearly 8 per cent of such population. There were 
3,184,954 illiterate white persons 10 years of age and over unable to 
read and write, or 5 per cent of such popidation. 

The number of ilfittrates now in the United States exceeds the 
total population of the country in 1800. 

It ranges from 17 per thousand in Iowa to 290 per thousand in 
Louisiana. No section can claim exemption from its blight. In the 
South the percentage Ls highest in the rural districts. In the North 
it is highest in the cities. Boston hps 24,468 illiterates over 10 years 
of age. 

There are 2,273,603 illiterate males of 21 years of age and over in 
the United States, enough to determine any national election at any 
period of our history. 

That a country such as the United States should have such a pro- 
portion of her population wholly illiterate is a disgrace to the Nation. 

That this disgrace can be almost entirely and very quickly elimin- 
ated is certain. 

Dr. Claxton, Commissioner of the Bureau of Education, said in 
urging the approval and passage of this bill: 

With the authority provided in this bill and an appropriation from Congress for a 
small group of men and women in the Bureau of Education to pLn and direct the 
work, or even with no appropriation from Congress, it will be possible to obtain the 
cooperation of the States, counties, districts, and municipalities, and of churches, 
Sunday schools, women's clubs, and other organiza,tions interested in the public 
welfare to such an extent that within the next 10 years the percentage of illiteracy in 
this country may be reduced to a fraction of 1 per cent. I hope the bill may become a 
law early in the present session of Congress, so we may have plans ready for beginning 
this work next fall. 

Indeed it is not too much to believe that with prompt action on 
the part of Congress the result expected by the commissioner may be 
secured by the time the next national census is taken. 

Experimental work along this line already made shows that rapid 
progress is possible. In Rowan County, Ky., through the cooperation 

FEB 18 1914 



ILLITEBACY AMONG ADULT POPULATION. 



^^ 

^: of the people and the teachers of the pubUc schools under the leader- 

Ij ship of the county superintendent of schools, Mrs. Stewart, the 

^r" illiteracy among gi-own-up men in thai county has been reduced in 

three years from over 13 per cent to practically nothing. Mrs. 

Stewart wrote the commissioner a short time ago that there wore now 

only six men and women in the county who could not read and write. 

The history of that accompHshment is one of the most interesting 
and hopeful chapters in the records of educational progress in this 
country. 

Mrs. Cora Wilson Stewart, whose name deserves an honored place 
among American educators, having carefully studied conditions in 
her county, decided to make afn.eflort to wipe out the stain of illiteracy. 
She called her teachers together, outlined her plans, and called for 
volunteers. All the teachers of the county responded. On Labor 
Day, September 4, 1911, these teachers visited the homes of the 
people throughoiit the county, explained the plan, and announced 
that moonlight schools would be opened the next evening. More 
than 1,200 men and women, from 18 to 86 years old, were enrolled 
the first eveidng. Among these were not only illiterate farmers and 
their illiterate wives, sons, and daughters, but also illiterate mer- 
chants, illiterate ministers, and illiterate lumbermen. 

Almost one-third of the population were enrolled, for many besides 
the illiterates came to add to their meager education received in the 
inadequate schools of their childhood. 

Mrs. Stewart said of the work done in these schools: 

Their interest, their zeal, and their enthusiasm were wonderful to witness. It was 
trtily an inspiring sight to see these aged pupils bending over the desks which their 
children and grandcliildren had occupied during the day. Their delight in learning 
and their pride in their achievements exceeded any joy that I have ever witnessed. 

In September, 1912, the number enrolled in the Rowan County 
schools had risen to 1,600, and the movement had spread to 8 or 10 
other counties. 

As we have seen, illiteracy in Rowan County, Ky., was eliminated 
almost entirely in three years. This demonstrates the fact that with 
proper leadership and under proper direction adult illiteracy is 
easily and quickly wiped out. Illiteracy is much more easy of eradi- 
cation than the hookworm or pellagra. The experiment in Kentucky 
showed that in most cases an adidt could learn to read and write in a 
month. One man, aged 30, after four lessons in the evening school, 
wrote the superintendent a legible letter. Another man, aged 70, 
wrote a legible letter after seven nights. A woman, aged 70, wrote a 
legible letter after eight nights of study. In most cases a few weeks' 
attendance at the night schools was sufficient to enable the adult 
pupils to pass over the dark line of illiteracy and into the class of 
literates. 

This experiment conclusively shows that it is possible to bring 
he\\) to iUiterate men and women even under the' most adverse 
circumstances. 

If aU communities could have the able leadership, the constructive 
ability, and the healthy cooperation of all the forces used as had 
Rowen County, Ky., perhaps this legislation might not be needed. 
But unfortunately in many ))laces where conditions call as loudly 
for action there is not available the resources necessary for the work. 



4 ILLITERACY AMONG ADULT POPUI I 

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Especially is it needed to make known in any given locality both by 
literature and by oral appeal what has been done and what may be 
done. The national bureau can map out the dark territory and 
stimulate there a desire for self-help. It can advise as to methods 
and formulate plans for the campaign. It can receive and distribute 
funds for the work. Especially is it important that this power be 
conferred upon the bureau as it has ah-eady had offers of contribu- 
tions which without this legislation it has not power to accept or 
distribute. 

It wiU be a great accomplishment, entirely feasible, to inaugurate 
and superintend a movement concerted and nation wide in extent, 
which will place the United States where it belongs — at the head of the 
nations of the world in literacy. 



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